Fiber optic connector locking feature

Abstract

A connector assembly that includes a connector that has a ferrule and a latch. The latch is movable about a connection point. The connector assembly also includes a boot that is removably mounted to the connector. The boot is axially slidable to move the latch. The connector assembly also includes a locking assembly to selectively lock the boot from sliding axially relative to the connector.

We claim: 
     
       1. A connector assembly, comprising:
 a connector portion including a latch; 
 a ferrule supported by the connector portion; 
 a holder holding the connector portion, the holder including a boot receiver; and 
 a boot, the boot being configured to rotate relative to the boot receiver between a locked position in which the boot is locked to the boot receiver and an unlocked position in which the boot is not locked to the boot receiver, 
 wherein in the locked position, the boot is configured to move the latch by pulling on the boot; and 
 wherein in the unlocked position, the boot is not configured to move the latch by pulling on the boot. 
 
     
     
       2. The connector assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the holder and the boot rotationally couple to each other with a follower that is received in a guide. 
     
     
       3. The connector assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the boot receiver includes the follower and the boot includes the guide. 
     
     
       4. The connector assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the boot receiver is positioned inside the boot. 
     
     
       5. The connector assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the guide includes a narrowed section defined by an obstacle and positioned between an open receiving end of the guide and a closed catch end of the guide, the guide widening between the narrowed section and the closed catch end. 
     
     
       6. The connector assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a spring configured to bias the follower towards a surface that defines the guide. 
     
     
       7. The connector assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover connected to the boot such that the cover covers a portion of the boot. 
     
     
       8. The connector assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the boot is configured to rotate relative to the cover while connected to the cover. 
     
     
       9. The connector assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the boot and the cover connect to each other by a projection received in another guide, and wherein the projection moves within the guide when the boot rotates about the longitudinal axis relative to the cover while connected to the cover. 
     
     
       10. The connector assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the projection projects from an outer surface of the boot and the another guide is defined by the cover. 
     
     
       11. The connector assembly of  claim 10 , wherein a dimension of the another guide is equal to a maximum rotation distance of the boot relative to the holder. 
     
     
       12. The connector assembly of  claim 1 , including two of the connector portions,
 wherein in the locked position, the boot is configured to move the latch of each connector portion by pulling on the boot; and 
 wherein in the unlocked position, the boot is not configured to move the latch of either connector portion by pulling on the boot. 
 
     
     
       13. The connector assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the latch is configured to latch the connector portion to a fiber optic adapter. 
     
     
       14. The connector assembly of  claim 13 , wherein in the locked position the boot is configured to move the latch by pulling on the boot to release the connector portion from the fiber optic adapter.